Chennai: Two hospitals issued notices for dumping biomedical waste – Times of India

CHENNAI: Greater Chennai Corporation has initiated action against two private hospitals for dumping PPE kits and masks in corporation bins, minister for municipal administration S P Velumani said on Wednesday.
The minister said many hospitals had hired vendors who had been dumping medical waste in the bins. The civic body had already raised a complaint with the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB). “They may be penalised to the tune of Rs 17 lakh after the TNPCB procedure is completed,” he said.
On Friday, TOI reported that a city hospital had dumped medical waste along with solid waste in bins on the Avvai Shanmugham Salai in Teynampet zone. The next day, workers found similar biomedical waste in roadside bins on Luz Church Road. The TNPCB issued notices to Apollo Hospitals on Greams Road and Meenakshi Hospital after the civic body raised a complaint. TOI has a copy of the notices.
“We have given both hospitals seven days’ time to respond. Based on that, we will take it up with the board and levy environmental compensation on them,” said Umayakunjaram, DEE, Chennai, TNPCB.
The official said blue and yellow bags should be used to dispose of biomedical waste. But the biomedical waste was found in green bags used to dispose of solid waste.
“We are not sure if this is the first time that they were disguising biomedical waste as solid waste and disposing them in corporation bins or it has come out in the open only after the new contractor has taken over. We will issue a general instruction and conduct special drives to check on other hospitals as well,” said the official.
Deputy commissioner, health, Divya Darshini said they were investigating the issue. “Based on the complaints, we will take action. If vendors are involved, we will take action against them as well,” she said.
TOI reached out to both the hospitals for comment. The public relations officer of Apollo Hospitals said she would get back but did not respond to calls later. Meenakshi Hospital said the HR cell can comment on the matter but it was not available at the moment.